DIY: 5 Ways To Soothe Muscles And Irritated Skin With A Bath

December 18, 2015

Gary Cooke

Did you know that a bath can be used for so much more than just getting yourself clean? For centuries, bathing has been used to calm aching muscles, relieve stiffness and indulge in scents of numerous essences. If you look in your pantry, we are sure you will be able to find what you need to try some of these things yourself. Or they can make great additions to a basket to give someone for the holiday. You can use these items in regular bathtubs, handicapped bathtubs or even your jetted tub.

1. Oatmeal

Your bath can be a great place to soothe and stop skin irritations. Using Colloidal Oatmeal can help with a number of issues including: psoriasis, eczema and even chicken pox and shingles. Remember this is not the Quakers oatmeal that you have for breakfast!

You want to add about two cups to a lukewarm bath. Adding more can cause issues when you go to drain your tub, and getting a clogged drain is something no one wants to deal with after a nice warm bath. Soaking too long in hot water can cause skin irritations all its own, aim to stay in the bath no longer then 15 to 20 minutes. When you get out, you will want to pat yourself dry, as rubbing could re-irritate the areas you just soothed with the oatmeal.

2. Ginger

Many people do not know that fresh ginger works great as an anti-inflammatory and could help with pain relief. The best way to add ginger to a bath is chop up fresh ginger so you have a few tablespoons of it, place the freshly cut ginger into a mesh bag, then place the bag in the tub. As the water passes through the bag, it will pull the ginger out, letting it go to work on your body as you enjoy your bath.

3. Epsom Salt

Epsom Salt can be found in almost any grocery store. They are the most commonly known and used bath additive that people of all ages enjoy. Epsom Salt is magnesium-rich and when added to a bath, can service as a muscle relaxer. Make sure you follow the directions that come on the box for how to use the Epsom Salt. And make sure they fully dissolve in the water so they do not cause any issues inside your bathtub when you go to drain it out.

4. Green Tea

Green tea not only tastes wonderful and has several health benefits. Drinking Green Tea is the most common way for people to take advantage of all the great things Green Tea can do for you, but some people just don’t like Tea or don’t enjoy the taste of Green Tea. If you’re one of these people, you can still get all these amazing health benefits by using bags of Green Tea in your bathtub!

Some of the things Green Tea can help with while you bathe, is to ease sunburn pain, pull toxins out of pores and aid in a decrease in oily skin, as it has astringent properties. If you would like to add Green Tea to your bath, all you have to do is toss in 8 to 10 tea bags into your bath, sit back, and enjoy!

In some cases a light green line might form around the base of the tub after you drain it, be sure to check and then just wipe it up with a damp cloth so you can catch it before it has a chance to dry and stain your tub.

5. Apple Cider Vinegar

Many people know you can use Apple Cider Vinegar to clean up messes around your house. But it can also be used in your bath to help clean your skin, hair, and has other benefits as well. Apple Cider Vinegar is perfect to use to bring out your hair’s natural shrine or be used as an astringent for your face.

If you pour one cup of vinegar into the bath it will help to ease sore muscles and to also lull red and irritated skin. Apple Cider Vinegar is also an amazing detoxifier and can work great to aid your body with its anti-fungal properties.

As with some of the others mentioned above, make sure you do not use too much. As too high a concentration in the tub can damage the bathtub due to the acidity of the vinegar.

Remember a bath doesn’t just have to be about getting clean! It’s your chance to escape and enjoy yourself and unwind from a busy day. This is just a few of the many ways you can take your bath from a simple exercise in cleaning to make it something so much more.

I am a content writer who frequently contributes content to a number of blogs on varying topics that hold interest to me. Growing up in New York and then traveling around the country before I settled down in Tennessee has given me a wide range of life experiences and adventures to pull from as I write. I love to share what I have learned and helps others find new and exciting ways to better their life. When not writing I am an avid reader and gamer.